Patient Information

New Patients

You can save time by completing the new patient paperwork prior to your first visit on our Patient Register Link. Simply click on the link and complete before arrival. Otherwise, please allot 30-minutes prior to your appointment to allow for time to fill out the form in the office.

You will be asked to provide your insurance card
at the time of your visit. Your co-pay or payment is required at your
appointment unless arrangements have been made in advance.

Medicare and most insurances are accepted including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United, and Humana.

Cancellation Policy

As a courtesy to other patients, we request office visit cancellations be called into the office at least 24 hours in advance. We will be happy to reschedule your appointment during regular business hours.

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, there is a
doctor available 24-hours a day. After office hours, your call will be
routed to our answering service and you will be given instructions.

If you have a life threatening emergency, call 911.

For
non-emergency concerns, please call our office during regular business
hours. The doctors and nurses will return your call as soon as possible.
Unless you have an urgent issue, the majority of phone calls are
returned at the end of the afternoon.
Please leave numbers where you can be reached during these times.

Prescriptions

If you need a prescription refill, call your pharmacy and ask them to send us a prescription refill. Please plan ahead and call a few days
before you are completely out of your medication. If you have an
appointment scheduled we will be glad to call in enough medication to
cover you until that time.

Please be aware that Refills will not
be issued over the weekend. Prescription refills may be denied if you
have not kept scheduled appointments or we were not the prescribing
doctors.

Please also note that it is impossible for us to keep up with all the changing rules imposed upon you by your insurance company regarding things like "pre-authorization" of prescriptions. We strive to provide you the best medical advice available, which may sometimes be at odds with your insurance company's financial restrictions concerning that advice. As patients ourselves, we understand that health care can be very expensive. We try to incorporate your financial needs into this advice to help you make the best decisions you can for your health. We will include the medical reasoning behind our mutual health decisions into your medical chart, and you are welcome to have this paperwork to submit to your insurance company yourself for the authorization of your prescriptions if you would like.

Hospital Privileges

More Resources

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Should I have a full bladder for my tests or procedures?

Ultrasounds: no, unless you are having an ultrasound specifically for the bladder CMG/urodynamic testing (bladder): yes, please come in with a full bladderCystoscopy: yesHysteroscopy/Essure/endometrial ablation: no Other testing: not necessary

Will I have bleeding after my surgery?

Almost all gynecologic surgeries lead to some bleeding and bloody discharge. This can last for days or even weeks, especially if you have stitches in your vagina or uterus. Most of the bleeding is usually less than that of a menstrual period. You should wear a pad, but not a tampon, until the bleeding and discharge have resolved. Some people have a vaginal packing inserted after surgery. The first night after vaginal surgery, you may get quite a bit of watery or bloody discharge because the packing material in your vagina was soaked with saline when it was inserted.

What are the side effects of my post-operative medications?

Pain killers can lead to nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, and dizziness. You can limit some of the effects by taking your medicine with food. Pain killers are only taken if you are having pain.Antibiotics can also lead to nausea, vomiting, yeast infections, and even diarrhea. If you experience a rash or all over body itching after taking antibiotics, you may have to stop taking them due to the development of an allergy.

Will I have hot flushes after my surgery?

Most people will experience hot flushes after a hysterectomy, even if the ovaries are left in place, because blood flow to the ovaries is affected. This is usually temporary. If your ovaries were removed, then the hot flushes may need to be treated with hormones to help you feel better. Most other surgeries do not cause hot flushes, but many medicines used during the surgery may have side effects similar to hot flushes. These are also temporary.

Can I get pregnant after my surgery?

If you are menopausal, no. If you are still in your menstruating years, yes. Even tubal surgery (tubal ligations and the Essure procedure) have the risk of failure, though it is very low. Depending on your procedure and your desires, you and our team can decide what might be the best contraceptive choice for you.

Can I count on my endometrial ablation for contraception?

No. Endometrial ablation is not a form of contraception. It does limit your ability to get pregnant, but not enough to be reliable. If you do not want to get pregnant, you should still use some type of contraception after this procedure.

What are my restrictions after surgery?

Most people will require a 2 week period of pelvic rest (no sex, no douching, and no tampons). If you had pelvic prolapse surgery or a hysterectomy, you should avoid heavy lifting for two weeks. A urinary catheter limits you in obvious ways. You cannot drive a car or machinery if you are taking pain meds, because you could fall asleep behind the wheel. Many pain medicines and anesthesia medicines cause constipation- so use a stool softener if you are prone to this and use it BEFORE you get constipated.

How much will I owe for my visits or procedures?

Our billing team will help you with all of this. Nowadays, billing has become very complicated, so we have specialists to assist you in determining your insurance benefits and your responsibilities. For patients who do not carry health insurance, we give a hefty discount if you pay-in-full before leaving the office.

Should I have someone with me for my procedures?

Yes. You may need help getting home from the office or surgery center. You may also need someone to assist you when you get home.

When can I have sex after my surgery?

Most procedures require a 2-4 week rest period. A good rule of thumb is to avoid sex until your discharge resolves.

At what point do I need to see a doctor for my incontinence?

When it becomes a problem to you! If you have to wear pads, or you avoid social settings due to leaking, or your leaking has become an embarrassment, or your lifestyle or personal life has changed because of wetness…all of these things mean you should see a doctor.

I had a bladder lift in the past, but it didn’t work. What should I do?

You should see a urogynecologist for a full evaluation. Surgeries are not intended to fix all known bladder problems. Surgeries are performed for very specific reasons, and many bladder conditions can occur simultaneously in the same person. Only a thorough evaluation will reveal conditions that can successfully be treated in other ways.

We've compiled a resource for you to help answer the questions that may arise regarding your upcoming surgery. This is not an exhaustive list of instructions, but please read it before your scheduled procedure. Share this with your caretakers also. Lots of anxiety can be relieved when you know what to expect. This is the same sheet given to you in your pre-operative packet of paperwork. You can click on the link above and read or print as needed.